Gadgets

Category: Gadgets

Zungle wearable tech delivers sound with sunglasses

Amanda Giasson | June 24, 2016

Listen to music and make phone calls via sunglasses.

Zungle wearable tech is revolutionizing the sunglasses wearing experience. Zungle Panther is sunglasses equipped with built-in bone conduction speakers and a mic. With this unique gadget, users can listen to music, make mobile phone calls and look stylish while protecting their eyes. Zungle gives users the freedom to be earphone and headphone-free.

Bone conduction speakers transmit sound through the arms of the sunglasses.

The Zungle Panther Bone Conduction speakers are located on the sunglasses at the ends of both its arms. The speakers transmit sound waves to the skull through vibrations. The Bone Conduction technology allows the wearer to listen to music and make phone calls without blocking external sound. This means that they can remain fully aware of their surroundings, hearing everything around them.

According to Zungle, this technology provides a smoother and safer listening experience. The sound quality is supposedly comparable to earphones. Users can expect superior stereo sound quality and enjoy the freedom of no wires.

Zungle wearable tech is both fashionable and practical.

In addition, the shades are equipped with wireless Bluetooth, enabling wearers to pair the wearable technology with their smartphone. There’s also a built-in noise-cancelling microphone, providing a hands-free talking experience. A USB port is also hidden in the sunglasses so the electronic device can be charged.

As for its actual physical design, the wayfarer-style Zungle Panther is lighter than average sunglasses, weighing only 45 grams. The frames are available in five colors (black, grey, white, neon pink and neon green) and the 100% UV400 protection lenses are replaceable and available in seven different colors (black, blue, violet, ruby, titanium, fire, and jade).

Zungle was founded in 2015 and is composed of a team of entrepreneurs, designers and engineers. The company’s products are manufactured in Korea but are designed in the United States. Zungle is currently running a Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign for its Panther sunglasses and has already reached over $500,000 in funding, far surpassing its initial $50,000 goal. The expected delivery date for the Zungle wearable tech is November 2016 and the expected retail price is $150.

Fitbit fitness tracker stock slides against Apple

Denny | June 16, 2016

The new Apple Watch activity app arrived with the latest updates to the WatchOS 3 operating system.

Shares of the company behind the Fitbit fitness tracker devices fell considerably this week. The drop in stock prices was the direct result of Apple’s new improvements to its wearable technology.

The Apple Watch plus has received several updates including a fitness app that presents notable competition.

The new Apple operating system, the WatchOS 3, was launched on Tuesday. That OS is meant to address the primary complaints customers have identified in the device. For instance, the new WatchOS 3 makes it possible for wearable technology apps to load more rapidly.

Customers were consistently complaining about slow load and launch times. The upgrade allows apps to load data in the device’s background. The Wall Street Journal reported that this makes the process notably faster. That said, it is now putting the pressure on the FitBit fitness tracker.

The Fitbit fitness tracker maintains a consistent leadership position in the wearable tech industry.

The company behind the Fitbit wearable technology devices is based in San Francisco. It offers a spectrum of different gadgets for monitoring daily activity levels, heart rates and even a wearer’s sleep patterns. In addition, users can employ the compatible app to record their tracked data and to share it.

That said, the new version of the Apple fitness app allows wearers to record and share their tracked data. When users share their tracked data, friends can then message them other through the app. Furthermore, Apple also launched an additional Breathe application on top of its fitness app for its wearables. The Breathe app is meant to provide fitness tracking for wearers in wheelchairs. It also has features geared toward relaxation.

Beyond that, the WatchOS 3 offers SOS. The SOS feature works when the wearer holds down the slide button for a certain length of time. That action automatically calls 911 and sends a notification to the wearer’s emergency contact list. It shares the wearer’s location, date of birth, medical information and allergies with emergency responders. These features go well beyond the offerings of the Fitbit fitness tracker. This helps to explain the downward shift in the stock prices.